Second Battle of Maarat al-Nu'man

Second Battle of Maarat al-Nu'man
Part of the Syrian Civil War and Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War
Protesters, some carrying al-Nusra Front flags, in Maarat al-Nu'man, the day before the battle
Date 13 March 2016 Location Maarat al-Numaan and Khan Shaykhun, Idlib province, Syria Result Al-Nusra Front/Jund al-Asqa victory Al-Nusra Front fully captures Maarat al-Nu'man and Khan Shaykhun Majority of Division 13's leaders captured
Belligerents
Free Syrian Army	Al-Nusra Front Jund al-Aqsa
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Col. Ahmad Al-Sa’oud (Division 13 chief commander) Maj. Mousa al-Khalad (Division 13 commander) Zaher al-Ahmad (POW) (56th Brigade commander) Capt. Ali al-Salloum (POW) (al-Bukhari Brigade commander) Zakaria Quitaz (Division 13 media official)	Abu Mohammad al-Julani (Jabhat al-Nusra Emir)
Units involved
Division 13   al-Bukhari Brigade 56th Infantry Brigade	Unknown
Strength
Entire Division: around 1,000 fighters	Unknown
Casualties and losses
7 killed, 40+ captured	4 killed

Al-Nusra Front/Jund al-Asqa victory

Division 13  

On 13 March 2016, jihadists fighters from al-Nusra Front and Jund al-Aqsa launched an overnight attack against the 13th Division headquarters in the town of Maarrat al-Nu'man. According to social media activists in support of the Syrian opposition, Jabhat al-Nusra attacked Division 13 over local protesters and demonstrations.

The Division headquarters located in Maarat al-Nu'maan was overrun in a nighttime attack by a joint Al-Nusra Front and Jund al-Asqa assault force. Two Division storage facilities that were allegedly filled with the U.S. manufactured anti-tank TOW missiles were surrendered to the attackers. This claim was denied by Division 13 leader Ahmad al-Sa'aoud, insisting Al-Nusra Front captured only 'light weapons and ammunition' and that all of the groups anti-tank missiles and mortars were secured. The Division 13’s depots in Maarat al-Nu'maan and three nearby towns were overrun; Hesh, Khan Shaykhun and Tal Aas. An unspecified number of armored vehicles and a tank were reportedly captured. Al-Nusra fighters conducted door-to-door searches, ultimately detaining 40 Division fighters including several top leaders of the rebel group. By the end of the battle, Division 13 abandoned all its posts in Maarat al-Nu'man and the bulk of its leadership fled to Turkey. However, civilians opposed to the takeover took to the streets and stormed Nusra's HQ in the city, freeing some prisoners. A total of 11 combatants died during the clashes.

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Wikipedia